If your baby was born with a Group B strep infection that led to pneumonia, meningitis, or bacteremia, you may be able to file a claim against the doctors and medical professionals who were present at your delivery. When a Group B strep infection results in ongoing medical problems for your newborn, you could be entitled to compensation for current and future medical care and costs.
A misdiagnosed or untreated Group B strep infection can pass from mother to child during delivery. Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at 1-800-222-9529 to get connected with an attorney who can help you find the financial relief you deserve.
Group B Strep Infection Lawsuits & Injury Cases
A birth injury lawsuit can be difficult to prove without the right help. Uncovering the evidence required to substantiate a claim of Group B strep infection due to physician error or negligence is complex and time-consuming. The shock of finding yourself or your baby injured can be overwhelming. The complexities of a birth injury lawsuit can add to these overwhelming feelings.
An attorney can navigate the legal system on your behalf allowing you to focus on physical recovery for you and your baby. They can help you define physician or hospital negligence and understand how and where to assign liability for recoverable damages. An attorney can also help you meet your state’s requirements of proof for economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. Filing a birth injury, medical malpractice, personal injury, or Group B strep infection lawsuit can lead to a significant financial recovery.
Group B Strep Infection Overview
Group B strep infection is caused by a viral bacterium and can lead to other types of infections such as:
- Meningitis
- Pneumonia
- Bacteremia
Group B Strep Infection Causes
Group B strep infection is caused by a bacterium called Group B Streptococcus that naturally lives in the genital and gastrointestinal tracts. The bacteria are not typically harmful but can sometimes invade the bloodstream and cause infection. During pregnancy, it can lead to urinary tract infections, placental infections, and infections in the womb or amniotic fluid.
Group B Strep Infection Symptoms
If your infant experiences any of the following symptoms, they may be suffering from a Group B strep infection:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Difficulty feeding
Infant Low Heart Rate Or Palpitations
A low heart rate (bradycardia) is considered an arrhythmia, which is any change from the regular, even rhythm of a normal heartbeat. Palpitations, which can be felt as a fluttering or skipped heartbeats, are also a sign of arrhythmia.
Premature babies are more at risk for a low heart rate. Bradycardia and palpitations can also be attributed to such factors as:
- Infection
- Abnormally high or low body temperature
- Low blood sugar
- Insufficient blood oxygen
- Excessive or improper handling of a newborn
- Blockage of the airway before, during, or after birth
- Congenital heart defect
Birth asphyxia can occur if the umbilical cord blocks the baby’s airways. Placental abruption (premature separation of the placenta from the uterus) is another factor in abnormal heart rate in a newborn.
Babies with low heart rates or palpitations should be on a heart monitor that can detect life-threatening changes.
Any abnormality in an infant’s heart rate can be serious and potentially life-threatening. If your family was affected by this condition, a birth injury lawyer for infant low heart rate or palpitations can help you pursue compensation from a negligent healthcare provider or facility.
Infant Fever
When an infant suffers from a fever, the cause is often something as mundane as teething. But it could also be the sign of a serious infection acquired during birth. Sepsis is a serious blood infection. If it spreads to the brain and the tissues that cover it, the infection develops into meningitis. One-third of newborns with meningitis experience seizures and the health of these afflicted infants can worsen quickly, approaching death within 24 hours from onset. Besides being potentially fatal, infant meningitis can lead to brain damage and cerebral palsy.
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs’ small air sacs, and when it strikes an infant, it should be treated immediately in the hospital. Pneumonia in babies under three weeks of age usually was contracted from the mother at birth. All three infections, in fact, can be caused during the birthing process.
What to Do if Your Baby’s Fever is Connected to a Birth Infection or Injury?
If your baby’s illness occurred during the birthing process, it is very likely that your doctor played a role in this development. Your physician should have tested you during your pregnancy for different types of bacteria. During the period between the 35th and 37th week of pregnancy, it should have been confirmed that you were clear of any bacteria that could enter the birth canal and be passed on to your child during delivery.
Because infant infections can be very serious, you must seek immediate medical attention.
Group B Strep Infection Diagnosis and Treatment
A Group B strep infection is diagnosed by your physician who will swab your genitals and rectum. A positive diagnosis during pregnancy typically results in prescription antibiotics. Your doctor may also recommend a C-section delivery to protect the health of the fetus. If your baby contracts the Group B strep infection during delivery, they might receive IV antibiotics, supplemental oxygen, and additional medications and treatment as needed.
Group B Strep Infection Frequently Asked Questions
How Can Group B Strep Infection Harm My Baby?
Group B strep is a serious infection that can cause a newborn to develop pneumonia, meningitis, or bacteremia.
Can A Group B Strep Infection Be Fatal?
A diagnosis of Group B strep infection in your baby should be treated right away. Following their birth and diagnosis, they should receive treatment in the NICU (newborn intensive care unit) with IV antibiotics. Additional medications and treatments might be required if the newborn is also diagnosed with meningitis or pneumonia. These complications can be fatal.
Who Is Liable For Group B Strep Infection?
If your physician suspects you might be at risk for Group B strep infection, they should perform tests and receive laboratory confirmation of the disease. The diagnosis should lead to immediate treatment and might even result in a C-section delivery as the safest option to prevent spreading the disease to your baby.
If you were the victim of a misdiagnosed or untreated Group B strep infection, you may be able to hold the doctor, laboratory, or other medical professional liable for the harm caused to you or your baby during delivery.
What Is The Statute of Limitations For Group B Strep Infection?
To promote prompt action and ensure legal fairness, each state in the US limits your time to file a birth injury or medical malpractice lawsuit. This time limit, called a statute of limitations, differs by state.
An infant might have a longer time frame for a birth injury claim. Tolling for minors is a legal principle that stops the clock on a statute of limitations until the infant in question turns eighteen.
A statute of repose might also negatively impact your medical malpractice claim. The statute of repose can bar your claim entirely, regardless of tolling. Do not risk harming your case by failing to understand and meet applicable timelines. Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at 1-800-222-9529 to get connected with an attorney who will help you understand the merits and timeliness of your claim.
Group B Strep Infection Glossary Terms
- What is Bacteremia? Bacteremia is live bacteria in the bloodstream that can lead to a serious infection.
- What is Chorioamnionitis? Chorioamnionitis is a bacterial infection of the membranes and the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus. The development of chorioamnionitis often leads to premature birth.
- What is Bacteriuria? Bacteriuria is the existence of bacteria in the urine. This can cause a kidney infection.
Call A Birth Injury Lawyer Near Me
The Group B strep infection you passed along to your newborn during delivery may help form the basis of a birth injury or medical malpractice lawsuit. The help you need to prove your case is only one phone call away. Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at 1-800-222-9529 to get connected with a birth injury lawyer in your state.